Building stronger communities for mental health and wellbeing in schools

With Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 just around the corner (12-15 May), it’s a good time to reflect on what 'Community' means in our schools. The timing couldn't be more relevant, as we support students navigating the pressures of SATs, GCSEs, and A-levels .

We all know from experience, and the Mental Health Foundation backs this up, that having strong connections within our school community makes a real difference to everyone's mental health. When our students and colleagues feel more connected, we see them thrive - happier, healthier and better equipped to handle life's challenges.

Here we explore practical ways to encourage and celebrate community, build meaningful connections and create an environment where mental health and wellbeing can flourish.

Contents

• Ideas for building community in primary schools
• Ideas for building community in secondary schools
• Teacher-focused community building

Ideas for building community in primary schools

1. Buddy reading circles. Pairing older and younger children for reading sessions builds confidence and creates meaningful connections across year groups. It can start with just 15 minutes every Friday after lunch, trialling with children from year 6 and year 3.
2. Friendship benches. These are designated spaces where children can signal they're looking for someone to talk to or play with - it's remarkable how quickly children learn to support one another.
3. Class community gardens. Even a small growing space can become a powerful tool for teaching cooperation and responsibility, as children work together to nurture their plants. Begin with just one raised bed per key stage. Assign weekly watering duties to small groups during break times.
4. Kindness ambassadors. Weekly rotating roles encourage pupils to spot and celebrate kindness within their class - it's wonderful to see how this ripples through the whole school community.
5. Family sharing assemblies. Start termly, just 30 minutes on a Friday afternoon. Each class takes turns to present one learning highlight. This builds confidence and school-home connections.

Ideas for building community in secondary schools

1. Peer mentoring programmes. We've seen fantastic results when older students mentor younger ones, especially during exam periods and transitions between key stages. Begin with year 11s or 12s mentoring year 7s, meeting fortnightly during form time. Use a simple discussion guide to structure conversations.
2. Student-led wellbeing groups. These are safe spaces where students can discuss mental health and share strategies that work for them. Provide conversation starter cards to help students share coping strategies naturally.
3. Community action projects. Support students to connect with local organisations to develop initiatives they're passionate about. Connect with one local charity per term. Allow students to lead one small project, like a food bank collection.
4. Cross-year study groups. These structured sessions help build supportive networks across year groups whilst boosting academic confidence. Run 45-minute sessions after school once per week, focusing on one subject. Pair GCSE and A-level students studying similar topics.
5. Digital wellbeing champions. Empower student leaders to help foster positive online communities and support their peers in navigating digital spaces safely. Train two students per year group during a single PSHE lesson. They can then run short assemblies and create positive posts for the school's social media.

Teacher-focused community building

1. Wellbeing buddies. Colleagues can check in regularly with each other, offering vital peer support by encouraging open conversations about workload management, creating opportunities to share teaching strategies, and helping prevent isolation.
2. Cross-department learning walks: Quick 15-minute observations of colleagues outside our subject area can spark fresh teaching ideas - even one per term makes a difference to professional development.
3. Staff wellbeing committees: Teacher-led groups are instrumental in developing and implementing meaningful wellbeing initiatives. Keep it simple with monthly 30-minute meetings during lunch, focusing on achievable actions that don't create extra work.
4. Sharing circles: These informal gatherings provide valuable opportunities to share both successes and challenges with colleagues. Make use of existing meeting times by dedicating the first 10 minutes to informal check-ins and celebrating small wins.
5. Community partnerships: Build strong relationships with local mental health professionals to support both staff and pupils. Start small by connecting with one local mental health service and gradually build relationships through termly check-ins.

Remember, strong school communities don't just happen, they need consistent nurturing and attention. As we approach Mental Health Awareness Week, let's focus on strengthening these vital connections that support everyone's wellbeing.